Visible Spectroscopy and Magnetic Field Profile Measurments of Pulsed Power Diodes

Optical spectroscopic measurements in pulsed power diodes have been performed to estimate plasma parameters and local magnetic fields. Initial experiments on the Self-Magnetic Pinch diode at the RITS-6 accelerator (5-11 MV, 100-200 kA) at Sandia Labs used lens coupled fiber arrays that were imaged onto a high resolution gated spectrometer. Local magnetic fields (3-4 T) were estimated from Zeeman split C IV lines, which yielded current profiles at the anode surface. Additionally, electron density profiles were estimated from the Stark widths of several ion and neutral spectral lines.